Britain can strike trade deal with U.S. under new Brexit plan - PM May's spokeswoman

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Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks as she is welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany, July 5 2018. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

LONDON (Reuters) - A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday it was wrong to suggest that a new Brexit customs proposal would prevent Britain from striking a new trade deal with the United States.

The Spectator magazine reported earlier that papers given to ministers before a meeting on Friday had suggested that Britain would remain closely aligned with the European Union on customs and this would make it hard to strike trade deals with the United States.

“It is categorically untrue to suggest that we will not be able to strike a trade deal with the U.S.” the spokeswoman said. “The PM has always been clear that we will seek a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal with the U.S. that reflects the strength of our trading and investment relationship.”